These 9 Nationally Notable Dogs were some of the coolest furry four-leggers to walk the USA! There is Sergeant Stubby who was a Military Working Dog in World War I, even awarded the Purple Heart for his service. Buddy, the German Shepherd who was the 1st formally trained guide dog for the blind, and has a statue in his honor in New Jersey today. Then there is Balto, a Siberian Husky who ran the last leg of the Serum Race to get a much needed antitoxin to the village of Nome! Just more examples of the selfless service and bravery of man’s best friend! Read our infographic for more fun facts about these amazing All-American Dogs!

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BestBullySticks hopes you’re making the most out of this history-rich and important holiday. Originally celebrated to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the American Civil War, this holiday has grown to honor the men and women who’ve died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Memorial Day celebrations usually consist of visiting cemeteries and memorials of fallen soldiers. Often, these memorial services are followed by a potluck style meal or cookout. The common practice among many Americans to have a potluck-style dinner or cookout originated from a pre-Civil War tradition to have a “dinner on the ground” as part of a religious service.

People all over the country have family members proudly serving in our military. And while these fine folks have earned great respect for their duties, there are some heroes who often get overlooked — dogs!

Military Dogs

Dogs have played pivotal roles in the military dating as far back as 600 BCE. Trainable, loyal and fearless, many breeds were well suited for military service. While there are few breeds entirely excluded from becoming a service animal, there is an explicit preference for certain breeds. German and Dutch Shepherds are the most common because of their high intelligence, dependability and trainability.

Officially called Military Working Dogs (MWD) or K-9, service dogs fill a huge variety of roles and bravely stick by the sides of their handlers. Ancient military dogs were even seen in the front lines of battle, often covered in armor and charging the front lines in an attempt to break enemy ranks! However, the role of the MWD has changed as militaries have evolved. Now, militaries now use dogs as scouts and sentries because of their comparatively heightened smell, hearing and sight. read more…

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Today BestBullySticks.com brings you an easy, but nutritious banana pumpkin dog treat recipe that will stand up to your pooch’s taste test. Paul from Sweet Paul Magazine lent us this fantastic recipe, which his dogs readily approved of and yours will, too! Aside from their great taste, these banana pumpkin dog treats offer a variety of health benefits. Bananas are chock-full of amino acids, electrolytes, minerals, vitamins, potassium, fiber and manganese. Pumpkin provides your pup with a variety of nutrients that are thought to support digestive health, weight loss, and urinary health.

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Sweet Potatoes are a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals that your dog can benefit from!

Sweet potato, an anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory food, offers a wide variety of health benefits. For one, sweet potatoes are rich in amino acids which are essential for your pup to maintain healthy lean muscle. They are also full of fiber which supports digestive health, and are packed with antioxidants. These antioxidants are great for an upset stomach! And Best Bully Sticks knows that dogs LOVE sweet potato. We’re happy to feature My Baking Addiction’s Sweet Potato Dog Biscuit recipe for our furry fans!

Yield: About 2 dozen biscuits

Prep Time:10 minutes

Cook Time:30-40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup of canned sweet potato (you can sub fresh if you want)

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, or gluten free flour

1 egg (beaten)

*1/2 tsp of salt can be added to these treats to help extend the shelf life but, it is optional.

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If you plan to celebrate the holiday with your furry friend, these green St. Patty’s themed dog treats from Minnie in Manhattan are perfect!

These treats have no artificial color. Their beautiful vibrant green color is actually from mint and parsley. Mint and parsley not only provide the treats beautiful green color, these ingredients also help freshen your pup’s breath. On top of improving doggy breath, mint is believed to help alleviate nausea and stomach ache. Parsley is believed to ease arthritis pain and promote digestive health.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups organic brown rice flower

4 tablespoons coconut oil (warmed to liquid)

1 egg

1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves

1/2 cup packed fresh parsley

1 cup chicken broth or water

For instructions on how to bake these St. Patrick’s Day green mint dog treats, visit Minnie in Manhattan.

Many thanks to Christie for sharing this great recipe! We hope our canine fans enjoy.

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These turmeric and flax dog biscuits, created by Tod and Diane from White on Rice, are a delicious and healthy treat for your pup. Turmeric is thought to have pain relieving, cleansing, and anti-inflammatory properties. Along with the healing qualities of turmeric, flax is fantastic for your pup’s skin, coat, and immune system.

The pain relieving qualities of turmeric and the immune system boosting properties of flax make these dog biscuits a fantastic choice for a senior dog or a pup with a painful ailment.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup (180ml) hot Water

1 teaspoon Beef or Chicken Bouillon Powder

1 1/3 cup (175g) all-purpose Flour

1 1/3 cup (175g) Whole Wheat Flour

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

1/2 cup (55g) ground Flax Seed

1 Tablespoon Turmeric

1/2 cup (130g) Peanut Butter

1 Egg

For instructions on how to make these turmeric and flax dog biscuits, visit White on Rice.

Many thanks to Todd & Diane for sharing this great recipe! We hope our canine fans enjoy.

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Today marks the start of the year of the sheep. In the Chinese zodiac, the sheep is symbolic of sensitivity, kindness, prosperity, and comfort. In the spirit of the sheep, why not show your dog how much you love them with a Chinese New Year treat? This delicious and fun dog fortune cookie recipe from BS’ in the Kitchen is sure to start your pup’s new year off right.

Makes 4 to 6 fortune cookies.

Ingredients:

– 1 egg white

– 1/4 cup flour

– a teeny tiny tiny pinch of salt and cinnamon

– 1 tbsp water

*We decided to modify the recipe which originally included 1/4 cup very loosely packed brown sugar

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Many people know that for companion dogs to understand what we want from them, it is important to communicate differently than we do with one another. Our language, using many words together in full sentences, is not clear or discernible to dogs. We can help dogs learn certain words or commands by making those words meaningful, but simply talking to dogs and expecting them to understand is asking way too much of them. So, how do we learn to “talk dog“ to our best buddies so we can better communicate our needs? To be honest, it’s not that difficult.

Body Language, Facial Expressions and Tone

The old saying, “it’s not what you say, but how you say it” is a really good thing to keep in mind when attempting to communicate with your dog. Dogs are not complex thinkers and simply see the world in terms of “what’s good” and “what’s bad”. A high voice is good, so when the dog does something you like, tell them “great job” in a high pitched, happy sounding voice with a smile on your face.

Conversely, when the dog does something naughty like counter surfing, or jumping up on you or someone else, simply say “OFF” in a very deep voice with a grimace on your face to communicate clearly that he or she has behaved badly. It is important to note here that the dog’s attention span is very short and can work to your advantage. So, if the unwanted “jump” can be followed quickly with a “sit” command, you may replace the wrong behavior with the right one. To seal the deal, reinforce the correct behavior by popping a treat in the dog’s mouth and change your tone to a happy and high pitched one. Dogs also respond best when we are dramatic, so it is extremely important to pull out the stops and be very expressive about your “likes and dislikes” with respect to their behavior.

By rewarding or reinforcing the right behavior at the right time using the proper tone, body language and facial expressions, you and your dog will start to learn the same language and you will be amazed by the transitions the dog can make once you no longer have a failure to communicate.

About the Author

Deborah Rosen is President and Founder of Good CitiZEN Dog TrainingⓇ, a dog training franchise business based in Tacoma, WA. Deborah is known within the industry for her innovative ZEN dog-training methodology and her commitment to using positive and progressive techniques to teach clients the science of canine behavior. Deborah is now spreading her training philosophy of “peaceful living with your dog” from coast to coast through her Good CitiZEN Dog Training franchisees. In addition, Deborah also authors blogs, magazine articles, and is working on a book. For more information about Good CitiZEN Dog Training, see www.goodcitizendog.com.